5-0 No-Mo.... potential Daily Driver......

[YELLAHEEP]

Picked this '02 Police Interceptor up for CHEAP. It's in such good shape, I'm gonna fix it and possibly drive it for a while. It was a command take home car so it's got the nice interior with carpet, not the burlap-ish seats and rubber floors. Previous owner hit a deer. Didn't damage the A/C or Radiator at all. "Easy" fix.....

It's seen A LOT of dirt road driving...... lol

Have all the body parts coming to fix it, (ala former DPD parts car) then probably do a MAACO spray job.

Already deleted the spotlight and emergency equipment wiring. Needs a fuel pump and one brake line that rubbed and burst against the chassis.

Also plan on getting the old exhaust cut out, replacing with Flowmaster 40's and 3" tips.

Tires were bald and dry rotted so I snagged a set of 18" 2012 Challenger wheels. Requires 1"-1.25" wheels spacers to look right, but will bolt up as they are with no problems - they just sit too far into the wheel wells for my liking. Pic is using spacers for initial fit testing.

 

[in4aride]

Re: Crown Vic.... potential Daily Driver......

Hell yeah. It's funny how comfy those are to rock around in when you're not in the back :gee:

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Re: Crown Vic.... potential Daily Driver......

It's not even about the "comfy" aspect, these things handle well and will shit-n-get!

The '03-'09's are better with improved handling and braking, but this '02 is just a small step below those. Still has the big brakes and 4.6 engine those have, just the older suspension design and I believe, softer springs and sways.

Lots of us coppers really miss these as patrol cars. The new Interceptor Taurus has it's benefits, but gawdammit they're hard to get in and out of. Trunk space and back seat room are stupid compared to the CV as well.

So, when I saw this come up, I scratched an itch.

 

[in4aride]

Re: Crown Vic.... potential Daily Driver......

I'd rock one. My gramps has a marauder and its tits. They are fun around town no doubt. Be cool to see one on the track.

 

[Elguapo]

Re: Crown Vic.... potential Daily Driver......

Fun car! Ive had the itch to make a marauder clone before.
I'm sure this would be nice to drive to and from a track day. Haha

 

[Hypoid]

Re: Crown Vic.... potential Daily Driver......

these things handle well and will shit-n-get!

That they do! When I was broke down in I-80, the Nebraska State Patrol that picked me up was driving one of these. He spared no fuel in getting us across the traffic lanes and onto the exit ramp. I was surprised to hear the displacement was under 5 liters.

 

[lesslimited]

Re: Crown Vic.... potential Daily Driver......

Your Crown Vic might embarrass my jeep on the track, but my jeep...


Oh wait, never mind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYIJpzo2RVY

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Re: Crown Vic.... potential Daily Driver......

I don't even need to click that link John........ I know EXACTLY which video that is! :thumbup:

 

[Elguapo]

Re: Crown Vic.... potential Daily Driver......

I think those wheels looks great.
I assume it's dirt cheap to lower those cars/ I would lower and Go to a track day asap
Makes me want to sell the Saturn haha

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Re: Crown Vic.... potential Daily Driver......

I'd think it'd probably rub if lowered and put through hard corners.....

Tempting nonetheless........:shhh:

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Re: Crown Vic.... potential Daily Driver......

Got the 'Vic back from my Uncle's shop last weekend. Runs and drives good!

Lots of time spent at the junk yards, and got some work done this week......

Snatched up a super clean set of seats and carpet from a Mercury Marquis and got them steam cleaned and installed. (forgot to take pics..... :twak

Leather wrapped steering wheel from the same Marquis - installed.

Replaced the missing ashtray/cup holder assembly

Found a dash trim panel that wasn't full of holes and installed that.

Figured out where the water leak at the cowl was that was soaking my carpet - bad seal between the HVAC box and firewall, gotta remove the pass. side fender well and put a bead of sealer around the box.

Bought spray cans of Ford paint code FS "Spruce Green" (car sure looks gray to me..... :dunno: ) and painted the replacement core support, inside the new fender, under the replacement hood and behind the replacement header panel.

Tore down the busted and bent parts, then got the new core support installed before the rain started...... ugh. Did Colorado move closer to Seattle? Sick of the rain.

Found these under the driver's seat...... Used to be an Elbert County car.

Looks like the P71 package supplemental wiring harness is a separate, stand alone harness. Thinking about removing it. The mass of spaghetti in the trunk alone is obnoxious and in the way.

 

[proracedriver616]

Re: Crown Vic.... potential Daily Driver......

Why does it have wheel spacers or adapters?

 

[Kittrell]

Re: Crown Vic.... potential Daily Driver......

Why does it have wheel spacers or adapters?

Because race car.

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Re: Crown Vic.... potential Daily Driver......

Why does it have wheel spacers or adapters?

The backspacing of the Challenger wheels is deeper than the OEM wheels. In order to get them to position correctly in the wheel well, spacers are needed. They will mount up without them, but the fronts rub deep in the well a little and it just looks odd with wheels set too far inward. They'd fit fine w/o spacers if this were an '03-'11 'Vic.

Because race car.

No...... no race car.

Because RaceTruck.......

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Re: Crown Vic.... potential Daily Driver......

Ready for paint. Anyone know a guy who shoots a decent paint job & is reasonably priced?

Interior pics

Before

After

 

[xj-grin]

Re: Crown Vic.... potential Daily Driver......

Love it -- I enjoyed cruising my Dad's 01 Grand Marquis for a while after he passed away, great comfy and powerful ride (that 4.6 has some nuts)... until I sold it to jimgrms as "an age appropriate vehicle", which he promptly flipped for a jeep.

Must say though, Troy, a bit surprised to see you rockin a Ford. Seen the light, huh? :eyes:

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Re: Crown Vic.... potential Daily Driver......

Must say though, Troy, a bit surprised to see you rockin a Ford. Seen the light, huh? :eyes:

No. :moon:

This car has already tried my patience enough to where I've been reminded why I don't keep Fords around.

The mystery air bag light and associated codes are keeping me from getting it emissions tested..... The carpet has developed a certain stank from the rain water constantly leaking through the HVAC box and onto the passenger floor boards..... it's now got a stumble/misfire and the exhaust smells like rotten eggs (could be skunky fuel).... and apparently the electrical connectors used for the turn signals and headlights are made of 1000 year old plastic.... they crumble in your hands and good ones can't be found at the junk yards......

Oh and Ford's decision to use water-based primers and paints...... yeah that didn't work out well, this was the first hood I got for the repair and the pic is after a quick washing.... paint blistered like a bad sunburn.... paint guy at the Denver Police Garage said the only fix is to strip the thing to metal, so I grabbed a hood from an older model that was pre-water based paint. Had to use a fender with this issue as apparently Crown Vics have a tendency to smash the driver's front almost exclusively......

 

[xj-grin]

Re: Crown Vic.... potential Daily Driver......

Had to use a fender with this issue as apparently Crown Vics have a tendency to smash the driver's front almost exclusively......

So cops have a tendency to run into things? Driver front? :sunshine:

 

[planefixer]

Re: Crown Vic.... potential Daily Driver......

C' mon - you know you want to.






Or you could go the other way with it........

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Re: Crown Vic.... potential Daily Driver......

Thats what mine looks like with me sitting in it..........